Reformed Christians have sometimes reacted away from the man-centered worship of much of the contemporary church, and they have lurched to another extreme, one just as dangerous. If you react away from a style of worship that seems to be saying nothing more than “gimme, gimme, gimme,” the temptation is to think that “God-centered worship” …
For the Giant’s Forehead
We are the Church militant. We have not yet entered into the final Sabbath rest of the resurrection, and we still contend with unbelieving forces that array themselves against the God of heaven, and which, like Goliath, taunt the armies of God. Like the armies of Israel at that time, the church today is largely …
The BB Gun and the Plate Glass Window
Once there was a boy who disobeyed his mother. When confronted with it, he confessed it to her (under some pressure), but when she sought to talk to him about it, he muttered something about how he had done most of what she had said. She tried to talk to him about this, but he …
And Amen
Drifting is not hard to do, and it always takes various forms. One place we drift is in our responses to God in the worship. One of these responses is the invitation we have to sing to Him. Our singing is called to be rich, meaningful, overflowing. If the acoustics in this place fight you, …
Dinner Table Conversation
Every dinner table in every healthy family is a place of conversation, a place where we speak with one another. The table of the Lord at the conclusion of this service of worship is no different. We must therefore remember the conversational nature of a healthy worship service. This is a service of covenant renewal. …
The Family of Grendel
Once there were two men who appeared before the Lord to present their sacrifices. One of them, the eldest, was a farmer, and his younger brother was a tender of herds. In order to appear before the Lord, it was necessary to present a sacrifice of blood, but the older brother was too proud to …
The Romance of Orthodoxy
As you come to worship, always remember the romance of orthodoxy. By this we do not mean romance in the popular sense, romance having to do with mere sentimentalism. Rather, we are referring to truth in the sentiments, love in the affections, and deep courage in the battle – we are thinking of true adventure. …
The Weight of the Fruit, Not the Weight of the Tree
This call to worship is addressed to the children and young people who are privileged to grow up in the midst of the covenant, to those who are in covenant with the God of their parents. God calls us to this, and so we rejoice in it. At the same time, always be wary of …
It Is A Throne After All
We are called to worship, meaning that we are called to see God seated on a throne, high and lifted up. If we do not see God high and lifted up, then we shall shortly conceive of ourselves, together with all our opinions, to be high and lifted up. And whenever we do this, especially …
Two Doors
In the call to worship, consider the contrast of two doors. The first, found in Revelation 3:20, is the door of the church, a door at which the Lord Jesus Christ stands and knocks. This is not the door of an unbeliever’s heart, as so many today assume, but is rather the door of a …